1. The contents and the main objectives of the plan or programme and its link with other plans or programmes.

Information on the relationship with other relevant plans and programmes sets the plan or programme in a broader context. Such plans and programmes might be within the same hierarchy of decision-making (e.g. land-use plans at different administrative levels) or from different sectors but affecting the same or adjacent areas. ( para. 5.20)

2. The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment, including health, and the likely evolution thereof should the plan or programme not be implemented.

3. The characteristics of the environment, including health, in areas likely to be significantly affected.

4. The environmental, including health, problems which are relevant to the plan or programme.

These three requirements may overlap but are coherent and aim at different aspects of the environmental conditions in areas covered by the plan or programme and on which it is likely to have significant environmental effects. Paragraphs 3 and 4 supplement the information collated under paragraph 2. Paragraphs 2 and 3 examine problems, values and assets, whereas paragraph 4 focuses on problems alone. It may be convenient to combine information collated under paragraphs 3 and 4. The word ‘relevant’ (para. 2 and 4) means relevant to the likely significant environmental effects of the plan or programme. ( para. 5.21)

In paragraph 2, the relevant aspects could be of a positive as well as of a negative nature. The information should be as up to date as possible. The description of the likely evolution of relevant aspects (without the plan or programme) is important as a frame of reference for assessment; it corresponds to the ‘zero-alternative’ often applied in EIA. The description of the evolution should cover roughly the same time horizon as that envisaged for the implementation of the plan or programme. Effects of other adopted plans and programmes, or decisions made that would affect the area in question, should also be considered, as far as possible. ( para. 5.22)

In paragraph 3, the focus is on the areas that are of special interest for the assessment, namely the areas likely to be significantly affected by the plan or programme. A description of the characteristics of these areas is required. It would be appropriate to describe characteristics by reference to the environmental issues listed above. Examples of characteristics of areas include: especially sensitive, vulnerable to acidification, high botanical value or densely populated. Such areas could be found outside the area directly covered by the plan or programme. If an area is near to another Party, or if the effects are of a long-range nature, areas in other Parties and beyond could be significantly affected, in which case transboundary consultation will be needed. ( para. 5.23)

In paragraph 4, information is required on any existing problems relevant to the plan or programme, to provide for assessment of how these problems will affect the plan or programme or whether the plan or programme is likely to aggravate, reduce or otherwise affect existing problems. The relevance of problems may also lie in non-significant effects that, in combination with existing problems, could create significant effects. Even issues treated in the plan or programme that do not have any environmental effects may be relevant. The problems do not need to be of a significant nature and they do not need to be specially related to specific areas. Areas of particular environmental importance could be those with especially high environmental values, including areas designated under national legislation. ( para. 5.24)

5. The environmental, including health, objectives established at international, national and other levels which are relevant to the plan or programme, and the ways in which these objectives and other environmental, including health, considerations have been taken into account during its preparation.

The environmental protection objectives to be dealt with should cover at least the relevant issues listed in the definition of environmental effects: ‘any effect on the environment, including human health, flora, fauna, biodiversity, soil, climate, air, water, landscape, natural sites, material assets, cultural heritage and the interaction among these factors’ ( art. 2.7). International and regional (UNECE) objectives are often incorporated in objectives on national, regional and local levels and these could often be enough. Objectives are those relevant to the plan or programme’s likely significant effects or to issues that it raises. Consultation with authorities can help to provide this information. ( para. 5.25)

6. The likely significant environmental, including health, effects*/ as defined in article 2, paragraph 7.

*/ These effects should include secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short-, medium- and long-term, permanent and temporary, positive and negative effects.

( para. 5.26)

The list of issues in the definition of effects (see above) is not exhaustive and other issues may be relevant. As a minimum, and in accordance with the scope, the notion of human health should be considered in the context of the other issues mentioned in the list and thus environmentally-related health issues such as exposure to traffic noise or air pollutants are obvious aspects to study.

A description of the relationship between the factors mentioned in the list is essential since it could show other and more severe significant effects than those resulting from a more isolated study of each single factor. Thus, significant effects on air and climatic factors may cause significant adverse effects on flora, fauna and biodiversity. Broad and comprehensive information on the factors and their interrelationship is needed. A description of positive effects is essential to show the contribution of the plan or programme to environmental protection and sustainable development.

7. Measures to prevent, reduce or mitigate any significant adverse effects on the environment, including health, which may result from the implementation of the plan or programme.

This is to ensure that the report discusses how the significant adverse effects it describes are to be mitigated. The measures envisaged are not specified further and they could be measures envisaged or prescribed in the plan or programme or measures discussed in the report. It should be remembered that mitigation measures may themselves have adverse environmental effects and these should be recognized. There exist methods of mitigation in connection with EIAs that could also be helpful for assessments of plans and programmes. ( para. 5.27)

8. An outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with and a description of how the assessment was undertaken including difficulties encountered in providing the information to be included such as technical deficiencies or lack of knowledge.

Information on the selection of alternatives is essential to understand why certain alternatives were assessed and their relation to the draft plan or programme. A description of the methods used in the assessment is helpful when judging the quality of information, the findings and the degree to which they can be relied upon. An account of the difficulties met will also clarify this aspect. When appropriate, it would be helpful to include how those difficulties were overcome. ( para. 5.28)

9. Measures envisaged for monitoring environmental, including health, effects of the implementation of the plan or programme.

According to article 12, the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the plan or programme shall be monitored and, since these effects are specified in paragraph 6, the report should contain a description of how that monitoring is to be undertaken. The description should refer to existing monitoring arrangements if these are to be used. It would also be helpful to describe here how the results of monitoring are to be made available in accordance with article 12. Monitoring arrangements will inevitably be tentative at this stage, but the report should provide a good indication of the eventual arrangements. ( para. 5.29)

10. The likely significant transboundary environmental, including health, effects.

Not in SEA Directive as a separate item (nor in the EC Guide), but implicit.

It is useful to provide this information as a separate section, even if duplicated from paragraph 6 above. This will ease translation for and discussion with other Parties.

11. A non-technical summary of the information provided.

The purpose of a non-technical summary is to make the key issues and findings of the report accessible and easily understood by the general public as well as by the decision-makers. The summary may be part of the report (usually at the front) but it might also be helpful to make it available as a separate document to ensure a wider dissemination. An overall summary table may be helpful in simplifying the findings. ( para. 5.30)